Agreeing to the early dismissals

The Wake school board is at it again! They plan to release students an hour early every Wednesday beginning in July to help increase planning time for teachers. We have a School System more concerned about their own perceptions of what is best then the importance uniformity of a schedule for children or the opinion of the parents they serve. How much more instability do they want to impose into the days of the students and their families? We have had an attempt at forced Year-Round, mandatory busing – new re-districting, elimination of Magnet schools – one year your child goes to one school the next you’re going somewhere else! Which node are you now? What a chaotic plan, only WCPSS could think of this – in the middle of the week change the school schedule! You will have people forgetting it is Wednesday and being late to pick up their children – bus schedules in a state of disarray and never mind the extra cost of after school programs or effects of sports programs but that’s the WCPSS – why move a hill when you can move the entire Blue Ridge Mountains! How about a NEW approach! Renegotiate with the Teacher Union instead and add an hour to the teacher’s day! It could be flex time done in their home – they just can’t think outside the box – but we can by not voting the next school bond they want passed!

Could you tell us what the vote was for this and who voted Yea or Nay.

It's a done deal. They just passed this nonsense.
Some of the "highlights" of the discussion included the "fact" that the community WAS involved in this decision. There were parents and "community members" on the committee that decided this would be good and they went out and spoke to community members and got their opinion. Hummmm... no one got mine, maybe I was not home that day?

Also, apparently Jennifer Lanne spoke to several teachers who ALL supported this. So to that teacher that "went off" .... what's your problem? (Sarcasm soooooo on there).

Now I want answers to questions... what happens to my kids who have after school activities that I have already put down deposits for based on the bell schedule they already have. I guess I will be pulling them out of school early on the new "ten minute later' schedule. Sure hope the front office staff and teachers don't get all pissed when this happens once a week and can "accommodate" my needs.

Also, I'd like an answer to the sports question... parents are now responsible for getting the kids back to the middle and high schools for sporting events on early release days as teachers will be in their "professional learning centers" and can't leave children unattended?

Lots of questions, and yet, no answers. Oh, and Millberg also pointed out.. .this is NOT the change in bell schedule they are still "studying" for better academic success. Those changes will come in the 2010/2011 calender.. no, folks, the insanity will keep on going. Expect nothing less.

FYI-WRAL.com is doing a poll on this issue at their website. Weigh in if you wish.

How is this going to work with busing? For example, my younger child is at a 3rd tier elementary school (9:15 start). That start will be 9:05 now. Except that his bus already runs two routes before his route, and I know there are times when the buses barely make it to school by the 9:15 start. So even if school starts earlier to accommodate the Wednesday PLC madness, the kids may not necessarily be there for that learning time - or they may end up rushing in just as school starts.
By the same token, if the high school my older child goes to lets out 10 minutes later, that means his bus will be 10 minutes later on its following routes, even though those kids won't be dismissed any later than they normally do. So more sitting and waiting time for those kids. Note that sitting and waiting time does not equal learning time ...

Note this line from the N&O's online article: "Teachers are supposed to use Wednesdays for more planning time, which school officials say will lead to better academics for students." Not, "Teachers WILL USE..." So, will this just be a suggestion to the teachers? And what about teachers who don't need to be a part of a Professional Learning Community? Do gym teachers, art teachers, music teachers, reading specialists and ESL coordinators need this time? And if not, do they just leave early? I suggested to the board that instead of releasing schools early once a week, we put kids into study halls once a week for an hour, to catch up on work, work on projects, review for tests, or read -- stuff they won't be doing with that extra hour at home. They said they'd consider the idea...clearly they didn't think much of it, as a group. My point: in a time when we're trying to close the achievement gap, why are we passing up an opportunity to help kids get ahead??!! This plan was clearly NOT thought out. Totally stupid.